A U.S. C-130 cargo plane dropped supplies from a low altitude near the al-Omar oil fields in southeast Deir Ezzor, and were later distributed to coalition bases in the fields and in the nearby Conoco gas factory. The coalition usually ships supplies to its troops in northeast Syria through the Semalka border crossing with the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. However, the river crossing is currently unsafe due to floods. This explains why the coalition opted to air drop the supplies.
Earlier this week, dozens of trucks loaded with supplies for coalition troops entered northeast Syria through Semalka. The supplies were deployed in key coalition bases near the Rmelan oil fields in northern al-Hasakah and the area of al-Shaddadi in the southern countryside of the governorate.
The U.S.-led coalition presence in northeast Syria is limited to Deir Ezzor and al-Hasakah. Around 500 troops are now deployed in several bases in these two governorates in order to “guard” oil fields from ISIS.
The U.S. withdrew its troops from vast parts of northeast Syria last year, facilitating a Turkish offensive on its allies, the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Washington later announced a plan to “guard” oil fields in the region.

[February 13 2020 Trouble for U.S. in Qamishli ]

We have American soldiers with an ill-defined mission in Syria (“protect the oil”) after abandoning 3/4 of once stable territory on Trump’s orders, now forced to navigate roads controlled by Russian and Syrian regime forces. Too much to ask of our brave warriors. This was today👇 pic.twitter.com/aogTPW4WR3

armed pro-government militiamen in Khirbet Ammu blocked the path of a U.S. convoy

November 14 2019 video VOA

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said residents and armed pro-government militiamen in Khirbet Ammu blocked the path of a U.S. convoy. The militia fired in the air, prompting the American troops to fire smoke bombs. Tension escalated and U.S. troops killed one person, the Observatory said. The Observatory, which has a network of activists on the ground, said it is not clear if the killed was a civilian or a militia member. The Observatory also said that a Russian convoy arrived on the scene to defuse the tension.https://apnews.com/5af57c4ce873b35c22ceb7360f9323ee

A U.S. military spokesman said coalition forces conducting a patrol near Qamishli encountered a checkpoint occupied by pro-Syrian government forces. After coalition troops issued a series of warnings in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, the patrol came under small-arms fire from unknown individuals, coalition spokesman Myles Caggins said.
“In self-defence, coalition troops returned fire. The situation was de-escalated and is under investigation,” he added in a statement.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-one-person-killed-in-rare-clash-between-us-troops-government/

Bradleys from 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry parked at Erbil International Airport on Dec. 18, 2019. An Iraqi Air Force C-130 Hercules airlifter is seen taxiing at right.

Bradley fighting vehicles sent into Syria to guard oil fields from a potential Islamic State resurgence were pulled from the country after roughly one month, U.S. Army Central Command confirmed.
Mechanized soldiers from the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team were dispatched in late October but were pulled sometime in November after combined patrols with Turkish forces “never materialized” and the “mission requirements changed,” said Army Lt. Col. David Olson, a spokesman for the Army’s regional component command.
Bradley fighting vehicles sent into Syria to guard oil fields from a potential Islamic State resurgence were pulled from the country after roughly one month, U.S. Army Central Command confirmed.
Mechanized soldiers from the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team were dispatched in late October but were pulled sometime in November after combined patrols with Turkish forces “never materialized” and the “mission requirements changed,” said Army Lt. Col. David Olson, a spokesman for the Army’s regional component command.

[November 8 2019 troops to oil fields operated by ConocoPhillips ]
Kurdish-led forces and government troops clashed November 5 2019 near the town of Al-Hussainiyah

Al-Hussainiyah

. The clashes prompted the U.S. military to fire rockets at the government forces. The U.S.-led coalition denied firing, but the reports underscored the possibility of frictions.

[November 7 2019]
On November 1 2019, Mr Trump decided to commit US troops to defending a large swath of land controlled by Syrian Kurdish fighters stretching from Deir Ezzor to al-Hassakeh. The total number could be at least 800 troops.

[November 3 2019]

On Oct. 31, Bradley armored vehicles with the 30th Armored Brigade Combat team —a National Guard unit from South Carolina — moved into eastern Syria towards oil rich Deir ez-Zor province to safeguard oil wells. Its major equipment includes the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the 155-Millimeter Self-Propelled Paladin Howitzer.

[September 29 2019]

Trump comment US intends to keep the oil in Syria. Guard with US armored forces. Bring in US oil companies to modernize the field. WHAT ARE WE BECOMING…. PIRATES? If ISIS is defeated we lack Congressional authority to stay. The oil belongs to Syria. https://t.co/Leko5s1hXF

General Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said on October 28 2019 that US forces would remain in Tanf along the Iraqi border, and more were being sent to the oil fields operated by the US energy corporation ConocoPhillips around Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria.
“What I intend to do, perhaps, is make a deal with an ExxonMobil or one of our great companies to go in there and do it properly … and spread out the wealth,” Trump said October 27 2019 during a news conference about the U.S. special forces operation that led to the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

A convoy of some dozen armored vehicles displaying the American flag was spotted on October 26 2019 near the town of Qamishli,on Syria’s northern border with Turkey.

A U.S. defense official official said that the Pentagon has begun reinforcing positions in Deir Ezzor province with extra military assets in coordination with Kurdish fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces.

[October 24 2019 plans reported for oil field protection ]

Reportedly, there are U.S. plans to deploy half of an Army armored brigade combat team battalion that includes as many as 30 Abrams tanks in Eastern Syria to protect oil fields.

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Publishing on the Web is a fairly iterative process. ...NYT The problem is that everyone has a different heroic truth-teller, because we’re all preoccupied by different bullshit. William Davies, Guardian ...Not too long ago, reporters were the guardians of scarce facts delivered at an appointed time to a passive audience. Today we are the managers of an overabundance of information and content, discovered, verified and delivered in partnership with active communities. summer 2012 issue of Nieman Reports from Harvard,
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